Oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water

ABSTRACT

An oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water which is adapted to be secured to a water faucet and provide pulses of water for cleaning teeth and massaging a person&#39;&#39;s gums which comprises a housing, the upper end of which is adapted for threaded engagement with the faucet, and which carries a swirl plate which directs the incoming water flow against a rotor freely mounted in the housing. The rotor is thereby caused to rotate within the housing, periodically positioning an aperture therethrough over a channel which communicates with a valve chamber and valve. The force of the water entering the valve chamber biases the valve in the closed position, whereupon all the water flow bypasses the valve and exits the bottom of the housing. The valve is opened by inserting a nipple therein which communicates through a flexible tube with a hollow wand. With the valve held open by the nipple, a portion of the water flow through the device periodically enters the valve chamber and passes through the valve and nipple, whereupon the resulting pulses are directed against one&#39;&#39;s teeth and gums by means of the hollow wand.

United States Patent [191 Radecki ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE UTILIZING A PULSED JET OF WATER [75] Inventor: Tony Radecki, Glendale, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Modern Faucet Mfg. Co., Los

' Angeles, Calif.

[22] Filed: Aug. 18, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,636

[52] US. Cl. 128/66, 128/62 A I [51] Int. Cl. A6lh 9/00 [58] Field of Search 128/66, 229, 62 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,101,804 6/1914 Lauter 128/66 3,468,306 9/1969 Heitzman... 128/66 3,682,176 8/1972 Kelsen 128/66 Primary Examiner-Lawrence W. Trapp Attorney-Charles G. Lyon et al.

[57] ABSTRACT A a hygi e de se Re eve. a Pu jet of i??? Nov. 13, 1973 which is adapted to be secured to a water faucet and provide pulses of water for cleaning teeth and massaging a persons gums which comprises a housing, the

upper end of which is adapted for threaded engagement with the faucet, and which carries a swirl plate which directs the incoming water flow against a rotor freely mounted in the housing. The rotor is thereby caused to rotate within the housing, periodically positioning an aperture therethrough over a channel which communicates with a valve chamber and valve. The force of the water entering the valve chamber biases the valve in the closed position, whereupon all the water flow bypasses the valve and exits the bottom of the housing. The valve is opened by inserting a nipple therein which communicates through a flexible tube with a hollow wand. With the valve held open by the nipple, a portion of the water flow through the device periodically enters the valve chamber and passes through the valve and nipple, whereupon the resulting pulses are directed against ones teeth and gums b means of the hollow wand.

.,P'eime 6 De Fi PATENIEU NOV 13 I975 sum 10F 2 ORAL HYGIENE DEVICE UTILIZING A-PUIISED JET OR WATER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Oral hygiene devices which utilize a pulsed jet of water for cleaning teeth and messaging the gum tissue about the'teeth are often recommended by dentists as an excellent means of preventing tooth decay and strengthening the gum tissue. While the toothbrush is the commonly accepted means of cleaning ones teeth, it has several shortcomings. Food particles can become lodged between adjacent teeth and thereby escape the brushing movement of the bristles against the surface of the teeth. Similarly, such particles can .become wedged between a tooth and the gum tissue surrounding the tooth. Again, such a particle will generally not be removed by the use of a toothbrush and may eventually cause the tooth to decay below the gum line and/or result in a tartar build-up causing an inflamation of the gum which is only irritated by further brushing. A pulsating jet of water, however, has been found to be quite successful in removing these lodged food particles, due to the ability of a pulse of water under pressure to reach these otherwise inaccessible areas. In addition, the pulsating water jet can be utilized, upon proper pressure adjustment, to massage the gum tissue about the teeth, thereby steengthening the tissue and preventing the occurrance of irritated areas about and below the teeth which often result from brushing.

While there are several benefits to be gained from the use of a pulse water jet oral hygiene device, their acceptance has been greatly retarded by the cumbersome nature and expense of the devices heretofore available. Such devices incorporated open water reservoirs and electric pumps to generate the water pulses from the water held in the reservoirs. The use of an open water reservoir increases the overall size of the device, creating a storage'problem, and presents the possibility of water spillage. The need for an electric pump results in the relatively high cost of the device. It would be desirable to utilize the bathroom or other faucet as a convenient pressurized water supply and thereby reduce the size and cost of these devices and increase their appeal.

It is therefore the principal object of this invention to provide a pulsed water jet oral hygiene device which is adapted to be secured to a water faucet and utilize the pressurized water supply associated therewith.

It is another object of this invention to provide a pulsed water jet oral hygiene device which obviates the need for a self-containing water reservoir.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a pulsed water jet which obviates the need for a selfcontained water pump.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a pulsed water jet which is of simple construction and economical to manufacture.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Briefly, the invention comprises an oral hygienic device which is adapted to be secured to a pressurized water supply and provide a pulsed jet of water therefrom. The water entering the device is directed against a rotor carried therein, causing rotation of the rotor and periodic alignment of an aperture therethrough with a valve chamber and communication with a valve. When the valve is open, the periodic communication of the valve and the valve chamber with the water supply causes pulses of water to pass through the valve and into a hollow wand by which the pulses can be directed against ones teeth or gum tissue.

IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partial sectional view of the device in and taken along line s 5 in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional front elevation of the valve taken along line 6-6 in FIG. 2.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the oral hygiene device 10 is shown in FIG. I to be in threaded engagement with an external water supply outlet 12, such as a bathroom faucet, and is comprised of a cylindrical housing 14, swirl plate 16, rotor 18, valve 20, a valve activating nipple 22 which communicates the valve with a flexible hose 24 and a wand 26. The housing 14 has an upper chamber 28 therein terminating in interior threads 30 for threaded engagement with the external threads on the faucet. If the faucet were to have internal threads, a conventional adapter [not shown] could be employed. Positioned within the upper chamber 28 are a screen 32 which prevents particulate matter from entering the device and interfering with theproper functioning thereof, the swirl plate 16 and rotor 18. The swirl plate is rigidly secured within the housing below the screen 32 and is best seen in FIG. 3. The plate 16 has a flat surface 34, a raised annular rim 36 and a plurality of angled apertures 38 disposed about the outer extremity of the surface, adjacent the annular rim 36. As best can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the apertures 38 are angled clockwise about the swirl plate 16, causing the water passing therethrough to swirl in a clockwise direction. The swirling water than strikes the upwardly extending fins 40 or rotor 18, causing the rotor to rotate within the upper chamber 28 of housing 14. The rotor 18 is shown in FIG. 5 and is seen to have an arcuate aperture 42 extending therethrough.

Disposed in the lower portion of housing 14 is a subhousing 44, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and most clearly represented by the dotted lines in FIG. 5. The subhousing 44 is rigidly affixed at its forward end to the wall of the cylindrical housing 14 and is secured thereto at its rearward end by a web member 46, which is seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 and not shown in FIG. 5, as it is disposed directly beneath fin 40. The sidewalls 48 and rear wall 50 of subhousing 44 [see FIG. 5] are disposed inwardly of the cylindrical wall of housing 14, thereby defining an arcuate passage 52 about the subhousing 44. Passage 52 communicates with the'outlet end 54 of housing 14. In FIG. I, the outlet end 54 is shown with threads 56 for threaded engagement with an aerator A valve chamber 60 is provided in subhousing 44 which communicates with the upper channel 28 in housing 14 through a channel 62 cut in the upper end of subhousing 44. The forward end of valve chamber 60 has threads 64 thereon for threaded engagement with a valve housing 66. A valve 20 is carried by the valve housing and is adapted for linear movement therein. An annular valve seal 68 is positioned about the extended end of the valve to prevent water leakage from the valve chamber 60 past the valve. The valve is hollow and has a plurality of apertures 70 therein which communicate through the hollow valve with an outlet 72. An O-ring 74 and annular ring spacer 76 are also provided for reasons which will become apparent. When water is directed under pressure into upper chamber 28 in housing 14, as from a faucet, a swirling motion is imparted thereto by swirl plate 16, as described above, causing rotation of rotor 18. The water than passes through the aperture 42 in the rotor and alternately into the arcuate passage 52 about subhousing 44 and the valve chamber 60 through channel channel 62. It should be noted that the predominant flow is through passage 52, as the water only enters the valve chamber 60 when aperture 42 in the rotor aligns with channel 62 in the subhousing. The force of the water periodically entering the valve chamber biases the valve in the closed position, as shown in FIG. 2, whereupon there is a substantially steady flow of water from the outlet 54 in the lower end of housing 14. However, the insertion of a nipple 22 into the outlet 72 of valve housing 66 forces the valve rearwardly into the valve chamber 60, as shown in FIG. 1, thereby exposing apertures 70 in the valve chamber and allowing fluid flow therethrough. Nipple 22 communicates through flexible hose 24 with a hollow wand 26. The wand 26 is seen in FIG. 1 to comprise a pair of wand ferrules 80 to secure the wand to the flexible hose, a stem collar 82, O- ring 84 and wand stem 86 having an angularly disposed outlet 88 through which the pulse jet of water is directed.

In use, with the device secured to the water supply outlet 12 and the wand 26, hose 24 and nipple removed, the incoming water passes through screen 32, is imparted a swirling motion by swirl plate 16 and thereby causes rotation of rotor 18. The water then periodically passes through arcuate passage 52 and channel 62 which communicates with the valve chamber. The water entering the valve chamber causes the valve to close, whereupon the chamber is quickly filled with water, resulting in a substantially continuous flow of water through lower outlet 54 and aerator 58 [if provided]. When the nipple 22 is pressed through the opening 72 in the valve housing, valve is open, whereupon water enters the valve through apertures 70 upon the periodic alignment of the aperture 42 in the rotor with channel 62 in the subhousing 44, resulting in pulses of water passing through the nipple 22 and hose 24, into wand 26 and out the angularly disposed outlet 88. The remainder of the water is, of course, directed through the passage 52 and outlet 54. The pressure of the water pulses is adjusted by use of the conventional water source regulators, e.g., water faucet handles [not shown].

Finally it should be noted that for appearances, attractive shells 88 can be positioned about housing 14 and valve housing 66 as shown in the drawings. In addition, the O-ring spacer 76 is provided with a hexagonal inner wall 90, shown in FIG. 6, to facilitate the securing of the valve housing to housing 14.

Various changes and modifications can be made in carrying out the present invention without departing from the scope and spirit thereof. Insofar as these modifications are within the purview of the appended claims they are to be considered as part of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water which comprises a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being adapted to be secured to a water source, a first channel in said housing communicating with said outlet end thereof, a valve carried by said housing, a second channel in said housing communicating with said valve, means for alternately directing water flow through said inlet of said housing into said first channel and said second channel so that when said valve is open, pulses of water are caused to pass therethrough by the periodic flow of water into said second channel.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said alternately directing means comprises means for imparting a swirling motion to water entering said housing, a rotor mounted within said housing and having an aperture therethrough and means for directing the swirling water against said rotor causing rotation thereof and alternating alignment of said aperture in said rotor with said first and second channels.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for imparting a swirling motion to entering water comprises a plate rigidly mounted within said housing be tween said housing inlet and said rotor, said plate having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each of said apertures being angularly disposed with respect to the central axis of said housing causing water flowing therethrough to follow a swirling path.

4. The combination of claim 2 including means for opening said valve.

5. The combination of claim 2 including a valve housing disposed about said valve and carried by said first housing, said valve being adapted for linear movement within said valve housing and having at least one aperture disposed therein such that when said valve extends from said valve housing, said aperture is in fluid communication with said second chamber, whereupon the valve is in the open position.

6. An oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water which comprised a first housing having an inlet and an outlet end, said inlet end being adapted to be secured to a water source, a first channel in said housing communicating with said outlet end, a second channel in said housing, a valve housing carried by said first housing, a valve carried by said valve housing and adapted for linear movement therein, said valve having at least one aperture disposed therein such that when said valve extends inwardly of said first housing from said valve housing, said aperture is in fluid communication with said second channel, a plate rigidly mounted in said housing and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each of said apertures being angularly disposed with respect to the centralaxis of said first housing so that water entering the inlet of said first housing passes through said angularly disposed apertures and is caused thereby to follow a swirling path, a rotor carried by said housing and having'an aperture therethrough, said rotor being disposed between said apertured plate in the upper ends of said first and second channels so that swirling water strikes said rotor,

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means comprises a nipple, said nipple being adapted to abut said valve and for fluid communication therewith.

9. The combination of claim 8 including a flexible hose in fluid communication with said nipple and a wand adapted to be secured to said hose, whereby the pulses of water passing through said valve, nipple and flexible hose can be directed. 

1. An oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water which comprises a housing having an inlet end and an outlet end, said inlet end being adapted to be secured to a water source, a first channel in said housing communicating with said outlet end thereof, a valve carried by said housing, a second channel in said housing communicating with said valve, means for alternately directing water flow through said inlet of said housing into said first channel and said second channel so that when said valve is open, pulses of water are caused to pass therethrough by the periodic flow of water into said second channel.
 2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said alternately directing means comprises means for imparting a swirling motion to water entering said housing, a rotor mounted within said housing and having an aperture therethrough and means for directing the swirling water against said rotor causing rotation thereof and alternating alignment of said aperture in said rotor with said first and second channels.
 3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said means for imparting a swirling motion to entering water comprises a plate rigidly mounted within said housing between said housing inlet and said rotor, said plate having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each of said apertures being angularly disposed with respect to the central axis of said housing causing water flowing therethrough to follow a swirling path.
 4. The combination of claim 2 including means for opening said valve.
 5. The combination of claim 2 including a valve housing disposed about said valve and carried by said first housing, said valve being adapted for linear movement within said valve housing and having at least one aperture disposed therein such that when said valve extends from said valve housing, said aperture is in fluid communication with said second chamber, whereupon the valve is in the open position.
 6. An oral hygiene device utilizing a pulsed jet of water which comprised a first housing having an inlet and an outlet end, said inlet end being adapted to be secured to a water source, a first channel in said housing communicating with said outlet end, a second channel in said housing, a valve housing carried by said first housing, a valve carried by said valve housing and adapted for linear movement therein, said valve having at least one aperture disposed therein such that when said valve extends inwardly of said first housing from said valve housing, said aperture is in fluid communication with said second channel, a plate rigidly mounted in said housing and having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, each of said apertures being angularly disposed with respect to the central axis of said first housing so that water entering the inlet of said first housing passes through said angularly disposed apertures and is caused thereby to follow a swirling path, a rotor carried by said housing and having an aperture therethrough, said rotor being disposed between said apertured plate in the upper ends of said first and second channels so that swirling water strikes said rotor, causing rotation thereof and alternating alignment of said aperture in said rotor with said first and second channels, whereby upon extending said valve from said valve housing, pulses of water are caused to pass therethrough by the periodic flow of water into said second chamber through said aperture in said rotor.
 7. The combination of claim 6 including means for maintaining said valve in the extended position and thereby allowing flow therethrough.
 8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said means comprises a nipple, said nipple being adapted to abut said valve and for fluid communication therewith.
 9. The combination of claim 8 including a flexible hose in fluid communication with said nipple and a wand adapted to be secured to said hose, whereby the pulses of water passing through said valve, nipple and flexiblE hose can be directed. 